National Parks Week surprise: hidden gems outshine iconic parks in new ranking

News / National Parks Week surprise: hidden gems outshine iconic parks in new ranking

For National Parks Week, Travel Lemming analyzed data to rank all 63 US national parks. Lesser-known parks topped the list, while famous parks fell short

Photo: Travel Lemming Senior Travel Writer McKenna Mobley in Grand Canyon National Park.

To celebrate National Parks Week, Travel Lemming released a data-backed ranking of all 63 US national parks. The report finds lesser-known parks outperforming traditional favorites, with Yellowstone National Park falling to position #23.

Offering a fresh perspective on America's natural treasures, Travel Lemming's USA national parks ranking assesses each park across six factors: affordability, accessibility, biodiversity, crowds, reviews, and weather.

The following are key takeaways from the report:

Shenandoah National Park ranks #1 overall, with exceptional scores in affordability, accessibility, and biodiversity
Several lesser-known parks rank in the top 20, challenging conventional ideas of the top US national parks
Iconic national parks fared worse in the data, largely due to crowds and affordability. Grand Canyon National Park was ranked #15, Yellowstone National Park at position #23, and Yosemite National Park at slot #34
Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains is the most biodiverse park, North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt the most affordable, Alaska's Gates of the Arctic the least crowded, and Missouri's Gateway Arch the most accessible

The top 10 national parks in the USA according to the data are:

Ranking	National Park Name	State
1	Shenandoah National Park	VA
2	North Cascades National Park	WA
3	Biscayne National Park	FL
4 (tie)	Kings Canyon National Park	CA
4 (tie)	Sequoia National Park	CA
6	Everglades National Park	FL
7	Big Bend National Park	TX
8	Mammoth Cave National Park	KY
9	Death Valley National Park	CA, NV
10	Channel Islands National Park	CA